Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Nick Simpson

Dana Bergstrom @danambergstrom.bsky.social · 24d

National Climate Change Risk Assessment out now 👇🏽

Risk to current ecosystems VERY HIGH. Rick by 2050 VERY HIGH to SEVERE

A map of Australia showing climate change risks to natural environments

4 37 37

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · 28d

Case studies: 🇪🇹 🇰🇪 🇯🇲 🇧🇩 🇰🇿
Link to full paper: odi.org/en/publicati...

with the brilliant colleagues at @odi.global @acdi.bsky.social - @jodiekeane.bsky.social, Nat Mason and Mark Miller
#ClimateRisk #Development #GreenTransition #GlobalSouth #ClimateJustice

Securing structural economic transformation in a climate-changed world

In a world transformed by climate change, how can nations secure economic growth? This report explores how countries are building resilience and prosperity by diversifying their economies and leveragi...

odi.org

1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · 28d

Key ideas:
🌍 Climate impacts are already disrupting productive sectors
📉 Responses to climate change can “squeeze” vulnerable economies
📈 But a “green ease” is possible — with joined-up policy, fair finance, and inclusive trade

1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · 28d

🧵 New paper out 📄
“Securing Structural Economic Transformation in a Climate-Changed World”

We explore how climate change is reshaping development pathways — not just through physical impacts, but also through the global response: trade rules, finance, and geopolitics.

1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 8

How to apply:

Submit a single PDF with your application letter, CV, academic transcripts, a writing sample, and the email addresses of two references.

The application deadline is September 30, 2025.
#ClimateChange #Postdoc #Research #AI #UniversityOfCapeTown #ClimateAdaptation #AcademicJobs

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 8

We offer:
- A competitive tax-free fellowship of ZAR 450,000–600,000 per year for two years, with the possibility of extension.
- A vibrant research environment at a leading university in Africa.
- Opportunities for global collaboration and leadership in climate adaptation science.

1 1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 8

We're looking for someone with:
- Experience in systematic reviews, meta-analysis, or evidence synthesis.
- A demonstrated ability to produce peer-reviewed research articles.
- Familiarity with AI/ML applications in research or environmental data analysis.

1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 8

What you'll do:

- Lead global knowledge synthesis on climate change adaptation and risk.
- Use AI and machine learning to improve evidence synthesis.
- Lead high-impact publications and contribute to policy-relevant outputs.

1 1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 8

Delighted to announce that we are recruiting multiple Postdoctoral Research Fellows to lead cutting-edge work at the intersection of climate change adaptation, AI, and global evidence synthesis.
@ascend-uct.bsky.social @acdi.bsky.social

1 3 6

Reposted by Nick Simpson

RiskKAN @riskkan.bsky.social · Sep 8

🚨 Open Call for new Steering Committee Members 🚨

Are you working on #risks from #extremeEvents under #environmentalChange?

Join us as Risk KAN Steering Committee member for the upcoming term: www.risk-kan.org/about-riskka...

www.risk-kan.org

@futureearth.bsky.social @wcrpclimate.bsky.social.

1 9 12

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

And here is a podcast version: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-9pqm9-...

open.spotify.com/show/3u8zCUo...

Complex Climate Risk: Advances and Adaptation Strategies

This podcast focuses on recent advances in complex climate change risk assessment for adaptation and discusses how to better assess and manage the intricate and interconnected risks posed by climate c...

www.podbean.com

1

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Read the full paper:
📄 Simpson et al. (2025) “Advances in complex climate change risk assessment for adaptation”
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s441...
Let’s build adaptation that’s systemic, equitable, and feasible. [9/9]

Advances in complex climate change risk assessment for adaptation - npj Climate Action

Recent advances in climate change risk assessment and management and their application across cities, coastal zones, and finance highlight promising opportunities for near-term action to better govern...

doi.org

1 1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

What’s new?
We extend DAPP to DAPP-MR for multi-risk systems.
We link systemic risk modeling with adaptation feasibility.
We emphasize co-production, local knowledge, and fiscal realism. [8/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Equity & feasibility:
We outline 5 enablers for governing complex risks:

Equity in planning
Avoiding maladaptation
Actionable knowledge
Multi-disciplinary integration
Local feasibility assessment [7/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Finance & insurance:
Climate risks are reshaping sovereign debt, insurance markets, and fiscal resilience.
We propose fiscal stress testing and risk-layering to guide adaptation finance.
Case: Danube region multi-risk fiscal gap analysis. [6/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Coastal zones:
With billions at risk from sea-level rise, we need tools that prioritize infrastructure and visualize cascading failures.
Case: Sweden’s hydrometeorological resilience tool for regional planning. [5/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Cities:
Urban areas face interlinked risks.
We show how pathways planning and decision-making under deep uncertainty (DMDU) can guide flexible, equitable urban adaptation.
Case: New Zealand’s NCCRA & National Adaptation Plan. [4/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Key methods we explore:
🔹 Participatory modeling
🔹 Adaptation pathways (DAPP & DAPP-MR)
🔹 Systemic fiscal disaster risk modeling
🔹 Infrastructure interdependency mapping
These help navigate uncertainty and complexity. [3/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

Why this matters:
Climate risks are increasingly compound, cascading, and systemic—crossing sectors, scales, and borders.
Traditional assessments fall short. We highlight methods that make risk governance more actionable. [2/9]

1 2

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Sep 2

🧵 Advances in Complex Climate Risk Assessment for Adaptation
New comment in npj Climate Action with colleagues across IIASA, SEI, VU Amsterdam, UNU, and NZ.
We explore how cities, coasts, and finance can better govern cascading climate risks. [1/9]
@riskkan.bsky.social @acdi.bsky.social

1 3 6

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Jun 14

Heritage Adapatation Indicators and the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Submision to UNFCCC
www.linkedin.com/posts/preser...

We are proud to announce the release of HACA’s Position Paper, developed by Preserving Legacies in collaboration with heritage professionals and practitioners worldwide. | Preserving Legacies

We are proud to announce the release of HACA’s Position Paper, developed by Preserving Legacies in collaboration with heritage professionals and practitioners worldwide. This paper provides targeted r...

www.linkedin.com

Reposted by Nick Simpson

Arno Kopecky @arnokopecky.bsky.social · Jun 5

“If we understand industrial CO2 as debt, then heat is the interest on that debt…we now find ourselves in the default zone.”
And here come the repo-men…
Another banger from @johnvaillant.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

John Vaillant: Mark Carney should understand better than anyone why Canada is burning. Here’s how he can change course.

Many reasons for our intense wildfire season are well-known. Our leaders need to do the math in order to save our economy - and us

www.thestar.com

2 44 150

Reposted by Nick Simpson

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Apr 5

Most Africans place primary responsibility for climate action on their own government.

Our new paper in @natureportfolio.nature.com shows a further third see ordinary citizens as most responsible, while very few place responsibility on historical emitters that caused the climate crisis.

Comparison of proportion of respondents in each country who have heard of climate change and believe the actor most responsible for limiting climate change is their own government, ordinary Africans, rich countries, or industry.

1 5 9

Reposted by Nick Simpson

Nick Simpson @nickzimson.bsky.social · Apr 5

Open Access here: doi.org/10.1038/s432...
@acdi.bsky.social @talbotmandrews.bsky.social @afrobarometer.bsky.social

Most Africans place primary responsibility for climate action on their own government - Communications Earth & Environment

About 45 percent of Africans believe their government is responsible for climate change action, and the least responsibility is attributed to countries and businesses with high greenhouse gas emission...

doi.org

3

Reposted by Nick Simpson

Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · Apr 10

NEW – Survey: ‘Very few’ Africans place responsibility for climate action on ‘rich nations’ | @ayeshatandon.carbonbrief.org w/ comment from @nickzimson.bsky.social Dr Stella Nyambura Mbau, Dr Shehnaaz Moosa

Read here: buff.ly/CEnPXIB

People gather to watch a cycling race in Muhanga, Rwanda. Credit: Alexey Stiop / Alamy Stock Photo

1 3 10